“Ah, it hurts!”
Hmph, Vania is crying as quietly as possible.
“Are you crazy? Why are you hitting me so hard?”
Nike, looking at the hurt Vania, quickly scolds Ryan.
Ryan said in bewilderment.
“You’re suddenly proposing at this point?”
"What?"
Nike frowned.
Vania cheered.
“I like it~.”
“No, I’m all grown up!”
Nike looked down at the bickering siblings.
He is sitting with one knee bent in front of Vania.
...it was easy to misunderstand.
Nike woke up.
He was about to get up and explain.
'But what do you say?'
He realized that he had reached out without thinking.
Could memories be restored through contact? Even Nike wasn't sure until he tried.
It might just be giving Vania hope for nothing, and it might not be fruitful.
Well then, I can't just say out loud that I want to try to find my memories, so how can I...?
“Can I hold your hand?”
He just threw it in without explaining anything!
Vania nodded quickly, her eyes wide.
“Yes, I like it!”
“No, what!”
"For a moment!"
Nike quickly pulled Ryan, who was about to spit fire, and took him to a corner of the barracks.
The two spoke quietly.
“What? Are you crazy?”
“First of all, don’t misunderstand and listen to what I have to say.”
“Yes, let’s try it.”
...Will you believe this?
Nike began to whisper quietly into Ryan's ear, who seemed to be about to start a fuss no matter what he said.
Fourth day of the subjugation.
The Third Prince's adjutant, Reiner Cruiser, stands blankly in the middle of the battlefield.
Nike is visible nearby.
A face that is pale from not being able to sleep.
Still, his sparkling blue eyes were waiting for a lull.
He swings his sword like a grim reaper. He mercilessly cuts off the heads of demons. He casts aside his blood-soaked head, and his eyes gleam as he searches for his next prey.
No more. A lull.
Then he looks back with an expression full of joy.
Reiner can see the barracks where Nike practically lived for four days. Standing at the entrance is Ryan Belzer. It was his barracks.
Seeing Nike trying to go towards him again, Reiner couldn't stand it anymore.
“Your Highness, please stop.”
He grabbed Nike and said.
“You didn’t sleep for four days, did you?”
“...”
“I understand. It’s the height of things.”
“...Reiner.”
"But I'm saying this because I'm afraid that other people might notice, too. Do you know how many times I've seen you two rushing into the barracks every time there's a break?"
Nike closed his eyes tightly.
He has been suffering from misunderstandings with his adjutant for four days...
"Your Highness, you're the face of the royal family. Please maintain your dignity."
"Stop."
After four nights of staying up all night, Nike was exhausted. But since he hadn't had many opportunities to see Vania, he didn't have time to wrangle over this misunderstanding.
He said in a somewhat angry voice,
“The only person who thinks it’s strange that the two of us are in there is you, who is misunderstanding things on your own.”
After saying that, he turned around. This time, he and Ryan were forced into the barracks again, sealing the entrance tightly.
"Your Highness!"
As Reiner followed in shock, these people blocked his path as if they had been waiting for him.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Hmph, Vania is crying as quietly as possible.
“Are you crazy? Why are you hitting me so hard?”
Nike, looking at the hurt Vania, quickly scolds Ryan.
Ryan said in bewilderment.
“You’re suddenly proposing at this point?”
"What?"
Nike frowned.
Vania cheered.
“I like it~.”
“Like, what?! You’re just a kid whose hair isn’t even dry yet!”
Nike looked down at the bickering siblings.
He is sitting with one knee bent in front of Vania.
...it was easy to misunderstand.
Nike woke up.
He was about to get up and explain.
'But what do you say?'
He realized that he had reached out without thinking.
Could memories be restored through contact? Even Nike wasn't sure until he tried.
It might just be giving Vania hope for nothing, and it might not be fruitful.
Well then, I can't just say out loud that I want to try to find my memories, so how can I...?
“Can I hold your hand?”
He just threw it in without explaining anything!
Vania nodded quickly, her eyes wide.
“Yes, I like it!”
“No, what!”
"For a moment!"
Nike quickly pulled Ryan, who was about to spit fire, and took him to a corner of the barracks.
The two spoke quietly.
“What? Are you crazy?”
“First of all, don’t misunderstand and listen to what I have to say.”
“Yes, let’s try it.”
...Will you believe this?
Nike began to whisper quietly into Ryan's ear, who seemed to be about to start a fuss no matter what he said.
***
Fourth day of the subjugation.
The Third Prince's adjutant, Reiner Cruiser, stands blankly in the middle of the battlefield.
Nike is visible nearby.
A face that is pale from not being able to sleep.
Still, his sparkling blue eyes were waiting for a lull.
He swings his sword like a grim reaper. He mercilessly cuts off the heads of demons. He casts aside his blood-soaked head, and his eyes gleam as he searches for his next prey.
No more. A lull.
Then he looks back with an expression full of joy.
Reiner can see the barracks where Nike practically lived for four days. Standing at the entrance is Ryan Belzer. It was his barracks.
Seeing Nike trying to go towards him again, Reiner couldn't stand it anymore.
“Your Highness, please stop.”
He grabbed Nike and said.
“You didn’t sleep for four days, did you?”
“...”
“I understand. It’s the height of things.”
“...Reiner.”
"But I'm saying this because I'm afraid that other people might notice, too. Do you know how many times I've seen you two rushing into the barracks every time there's a break?"
Nike closed his eyes tightly.
He has been suffering from misunderstandings with his adjutant for four days...
"Your Highness, you're the face of the royal family. Please maintain your dignity."
"Stop."
After four nights of staying up all night, Nike was exhausted. But since he hadn't had many opportunities to see Vania, he didn't have time to wrangle over this misunderstanding.
He said in a somewhat angry voice,
“The only person who thinks it’s strange that the two of us are in there is you, who is misunderstanding things on your own.”
After saying that, he turned around. This time, he and Ryan were forced into the barracks again, sealing the entrance tightly.
"Your Highness!"
As Reiner followed in shock, these people blocked his path as if they had been waiting for him.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Kali, Max, Jack, and Rudy.
They are private soldiers of the Belzer family.
"Ha..."
Because of these, Reiner couldn't even stop Nike.
“Please wait outside. The Commander's orders prohibit anyone from entering these barracks.”
Kali, the leader of the Belzer family's private army, speaks coldly.
Reiner really... wanted to cry.
***
"Shouldn't you explain this to your adjutant? It seems like there's been a very serious misunderstanding."
Ryan said.
"I've done it dozens of times already. But he doesn't believe it. Actually, I thought things were finally calming down..."
Nike added with a sigh.
“I think this incident has made it completely irreversible.”
Yes! It was strange even to me.
How could there not be a misunderstanding when Ryan and I are locked in the barracks alone, as if we had been waiting for every lull?
But that's really a misunderstanding.
Nike is just searching for his memories right now.
'It's still surprising when I think about it again.'
I never expected to find his memories. But it did. I was the key.
I don't know why this is possible.
By simply coming into contact with Nike, I was sequentially instilling in him the ten years of memories he had lost.
“I’ll wash up.”
I nodded at Nike's words and turned around. It's been the same pattern for four days now, so I'm used to it.
The sound of weapons being unloaded, the sound of prepared wash water splashing, the sound of changing blood-soaked armor...
Despite the lack of time, Nike washed himself roughly. He probably didn't want me to smell the blood.
“I’m not out yet, am I?”
"Yes."
Damn, the only frustrating thing is that Nike is slowly regaining his memories from when he was fourteen!
“But it’s only a matter of time. It’s already the spring of my twenties.”
"Oh!"
I told you. I was sixteen, Nike was twenty. We first met that summer.
“The corners of your mouth are splitting.”
“Ahem.”
I ignored Ryan and waited for Nike to finish washing up, while I watched the shadows looming outside the barracks.
Our family's private soldiers maintain an iron defense.
And fighting with them...
'Reiner.'
It was so sad that I laughed.
How worried are you right now?
Reiner, my close friend and Nike's friend, was also a precious person to me. I have many memories with him.
After all, wasn't it thanks to Reiner that Nike and I met?
“Please tell him you love him a lot.”
As I spoke absentmindedly, I heard Nike pause behind me. Ryan, sitting next to me, glared at me.
I added immediately at Ryan's terrifying gaze.
“...Not to me, but to the Prince’s friend.”
"Suddenly?"
Nike's voice was close. He seemed to have washed up, so I turned around.
"I know you must be tired, but even those misunderstandings are happening out of concern for you, Prince. You're such close friends. A small misunderstanding can make things awkward, and you never know what might happen later. You shouldn't be stingy with your affection for someone precious to you."
Nike's expression, sitting in front of me, suddenly turned worried.
“Am I... going to die?”
"Ah?"
I guess he thought it meant to show a lot of affection before he died.
I smiled and shook my head.
“No! You won’t die, don’t worry!”
And I reached out to Nike, who laid down in relief. We held hands as we had for the past four days.
Under Ryan's supervision.
“But while it’s good to find your memories, shouldn’t you get some sleep?”
Looking at Nike's tired face as he lies down, I'm worried. He's lying down with his eyes closed when he regains his memories, but he can't fall asleep. He needs to be awake.
“You look very tired...”
Holding Nike's pale hand, I felt like a wife saying her final goodbyes to her ailing husband.
“I’m fine. I want to regain my memories quickly... but I don’t have many opportunities to see you.”
"So, I was thinking, would you mind taking me with you after the subjugation? It shouldn't be hard to hide, so let's go together to the Prince's house and I..."
Bunny!!!
"Ouch!"
Nike's close friend, Reiner, was the second son of the wealthy Marquis Cruz family.
With one older brother and four younger brothers in a row, Reiner sang "Little Sister, Little Sister" songs every day.
"Please, this time! I'd give anything to have a cute little sister. I'd even give my life!"
Reiner, eighteen years old.
His parents, the Marquis and Duke of Cruz, who were on good terms, had a late child, this time a boy.
“Wow, I have to get married!”
He said he would rather get married and have a daughter.
"Nike, you can get married and have a son. If he takes after you, he'll be absolutely beautiful. I, his uncle, will give him the moon and stars, and I'll take care of all the troublemakers. Just trust me and have him!"
“You do it. I don’t care.”
“What are you talking about? Are you aware that you are a member of the royal family?”
"I already told you, brother. Why get married and have children when you don't know when you'll die? Besides, I spend half my year on the battlefield. I feel bad for my family."
“...Oh, I see.”
Reiner thought for a moment, then said to Nike.
“Then I guess I shouldn’t do it either.”
I want to work with my beloved friend for the rest of my life and then die!
“What are you talking about? Get married and have a daughter.”
"If I get married, my wife and children will come before you. Then I feel so bad for you, growing old alone."
“What...”
“Hahaha! Don’t worry! I won’t make you sad!”
He thought it was just a rumor, but even at the age of twenty, Reiner really kept his word.
He was the son of a noble family of considerable prestige and was even a knight of the imperial family. He refused all the marriage proposals that came pouring in.
“Reiner.”
“Ugh! Phew... Ah...”
The shadow of death had already loomed over Reiner long ago.
Why did I make a mistake?
Four years ago, after he helplessly lost his close friend Anton.
Nike made sure not to lose Reiner, no matter what happened, and always kept him by his side on the battlefield.
However, he ended up being complacent during this expedition. The number of demons was less than expected, and he didn't try to stop Reiner from going to the more tranquil fringe areas rather than the center.
Why would that be? Why.
He knew what was going to happen.
“I, phew! Ha...”
A lump of blood churned out from Reiner's mouth, who was speaking forcefully.
“Don’t... don’t say anything.”
Nike's hands were trembling as he poured hemostatic powder pointlessly into his ruptured abdomen.
It's scary. The death of a close friend.
And he's scared. He'll be unable to do anything again, and he'll have to send his comrades away, with no one by his side.
“Nike...”
Affectionately, his name was called.
Reiner said with calm eyes, as if he had a premonition of impending death.
“I have a favor to ask....”
"Yes..."
“Give me a daughter...”
“...”
Even though he was saying it, it seemed like it was funny, as Reiner giggled with his eyes rolled back in pain.
“Even so, I don’t have a younger sister and I... I, uh, I can’t even have a daughter, how pitiful... If you... do it for me instead, I’ll... look after you, look after you from heaven...”
At his words, hot tears flowed down Nike's cheeks as he sat there blankly.
Amid all this, he knew exactly what Rainer was really thinking when he made those playful remarks about his sister or daughter.
I don't know why this is possible.
By simply coming into contact with Nike, I was sequentially instilling in him the ten years of memories he had lost.
“I’ll wash up.”
I nodded at Nike's words and turned around. It's been the same pattern for four days now, so I'm used to it.
The sound of weapons being unloaded, the sound of prepared wash water splashing, the sound of changing blood-soaked armor...
Despite the lack of time, Nike washed himself roughly. He probably didn't want me to smell the blood.
“I’m not out yet, am I?”
"Yes."
Damn, the only frustrating thing is that Nike is slowly regaining his memories from when he was fourteen!
“But it’s only a matter of time. It’s already the spring of my twenties.”
"Oh!"
I told you. I was sixteen, Nike was twenty. We first met that summer.
“The corners of your mouth are splitting.”
“Ahem.”
I ignored Ryan and waited for Nike to finish washing up, while I watched the shadows looming outside the barracks.
Our family's private soldiers maintain an iron defense.
And fighting with them...
'Reiner.'
It was so sad that I laughed.
How worried are you right now?
Reiner, my close friend and Nike's friend, was also a precious person to me. I have many memories with him.
After all, wasn't it thanks to Reiner that Nike and I met?
“Please tell him you love him a lot.”
As I spoke absentmindedly, I heard Nike pause behind me. Ryan, sitting next to me, glared at me.
I added immediately at Ryan's terrifying gaze.
“...Not to me, but to the Prince’s friend.”
"Suddenly?"
Nike's voice was close. He seemed to have washed up, so I turned around.
"I know you must be tired, but even those misunderstandings are happening out of concern for you, Prince. You're such close friends. A small misunderstanding can make things awkward, and you never know what might happen later. You shouldn't be stingy with your affection for someone precious to you."
Nike's expression, sitting in front of me, suddenly turned worried.
“Am I... going to die?”
"Ah?"
I guess he thought it meant to show a lot of affection before he died.
I smiled and shook my head.
“No! You won’t die, don’t worry!”
And I reached out to Nike, who laid down in relief. We held hands as we had for the past four days.
Under Ryan's supervision.
“But while it’s good to find your memories, shouldn’t you get some sleep?”
Looking at Nike's tired face as he lies down, I'm worried. He's lying down with his eyes closed when he regains his memories, but he can't fall asleep. He needs to be awake.
“You look very tired...”
Holding Nike's pale hand, I felt like a wife saying her final goodbyes to her ailing husband.
“I’m fine. I want to regain my memories quickly... but I don’t have many opportunities to see you.”
"So, I was thinking, would you mind taking me with you after the subjugation? It shouldn't be hard to hide, so let's go together to the Prince's house and I..."
Bunny!!!
"Ouch!"
Ryan smacked me on the head.
***
Nike's close friend, Reiner, was the second son of the wealthy Marquis Cruz family.
With one older brother and four younger brothers in a row, Reiner sang "Little Sister, Little Sister" songs every day.
"Please, this time! I'd give anything to have a cute little sister. I'd even give my life!"
Reiner, eighteen years old.
His parents, the Marquis and Duke of Cruz, who were on good terms, had a late child, this time a boy.
“Wow, I have to get married!”
Feeling a surge of determination, Reiner said,
"Nike, you can get married and have a son. If he takes after you, he'll be absolutely beautiful. I, his uncle, will give him the moon and stars, and I'll take care of all the troublemakers. Just trust me and have him!"
“You do it. I don’t care.”
“What are you talking about? Are you aware that you are a member of the royal family?”
"I already told you, brother. Why get married and have children when you don't know when you'll die? Besides, I spend half my year on the battlefield. I feel bad for my family."
“...Oh, I see.”
Reiner thought for a moment, then said to Nike.
“Then I guess I shouldn’t do it either.”
I want to work with my beloved friend for the rest of my life and then die!
“What are you talking about? Get married and have a daughter.”
"If I get married, my wife and children will come before you. Then I feel so bad for you, growing old alone."
“What...”
“Hahaha! Don’t worry! I won’t make you sad!”
He thought it was just a rumor, but even at the age of twenty, Reiner really kept his word.
He was the son of a noble family of considerable prestige and was even a knight of the imperial family. He refused all the marriage proposals that came pouring in.
***
“Reiner.”
“Ugh! Phew... Ah...”
The shadow of death had already loomed over Reiner long ago.
Why did I make a mistake?
Four years ago, after he helplessly lost his close friend Anton.
Nike made sure not to lose Reiner, no matter what happened, and always kept him by his side on the battlefield.
However, he ended up being complacent during this expedition. The number of demons was less than expected, and he didn't try to stop Reiner from going to the more tranquil fringe areas rather than the center.
Why would that be? Why.
He knew what was going to happen.
“I, phew! Ha...”
A lump of blood churned out from Reiner's mouth, who was speaking forcefully.
“Don’t... don’t say anything.”
Nike's hands were trembling as he poured hemostatic powder pointlessly into his ruptured abdomen.
It's scary. The death of a close friend.
And he's scared. He'll be unable to do anything again, and he'll have to send his comrades away, with no one by his side.
“Nike...”
Affectionately, his name was called.
Reiner said with calm eyes, as if he had a premonition of impending death.
“I have a favor to ask....”
"Yes..."
“Give me a daughter...”
“...”
Even though he was saying it, it seemed like it was funny, as Reiner giggled with his eyes rolled back in pain.
“Even so, I don’t have a younger sister and I... I, uh, I can’t even have a daughter, how pitiful... If you... do it for me instead, I’ll... look after you, look after you from heaven...”
At his words, hot tears flowed down Nike's cheeks as he sat there blankly.
Amid all this, he knew exactly what Rainer was really thinking when he made those playful remarks about his sister or daughter.
He is worried about Nike.
As he once said, he wished his friend, who was willing to give up all happiness in life and die on the battlefield, would give up that promise.
He wishes he could live an ordinary life.
He hopes he leaves the battlefield, meets someone he loves, has children, and is happy.
A request to live like that.
“I’ll go first... and watch with Anton... Yes...”
“Reiner...”
“Dude, hurry... answer me quickly. Yes? Daughter, I promise... You’ll give me a baby...”
Yeah, I will.
Even though it was an easy promise, Nike couldn't move his lips.
If he answers, if he promises, he's afraid that Reiner will close his eyes.
He's afraid he'll be able to leave without worrying.
“Ah, ahh... ahhhh...!”
The unspoken answer burst out in a deep sob. It was the first time in his life. He would never let his sorrow and pain burst forth like this, without hiding it.
“Hey, uh, uh, don’t cry...”
Please, if there is a God, please grant my precious friend a miracle.
One last time, just this once.
I will not make the same mistake again and will definitely keep it.
Just this one last time...
“Huh...?”
The voice of the puzzled Reiner.
Light fell on his vision, which was clouded by tears.
At that moment, Nike witnessed a miracle.
White, warm light.
Reinner's wounds healed in an instant.
Traces of near-death were restored at once.
...dream?
Is this a dream?
He just stared blankly at Reiner, who was sitting up in surprise.
Reiner's gaze was directed forward.
“Are you okay now?”
Following the delicate beauty, Nike slowly turned his head.
Pink hair fluttering softly like spring flowers. A face as white and youthful as an angel. A refined attire that didn't match the dirty battlefield.
There was a woman who pulled Nike up from the gates of hell.
He thought she was an angel.
God, who heard his earnest prayers, willingly sent him.
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